Athletic shoe for track competition and interval training

Abstract

A shoe for sprinters, middle distance and distance runners incorporating sharp spikes or like traction devices under the toe portion and raised cushion cleats under the heel portion for maintaining the heel in an elevated position for a good running posture and to provide cushioning as well as traction during heel contact. Also, the elevated heel portion reduces excess strain on the Achilles' tendon of the middle distance and long distance runners.

The invention claimed: 
     
       1. An athletic shoe comprising, in combination: an upper shell comprising a heel portion, midportion and toe portion for fitting around the foot of the wearer;   a sole fastened to said upper portion and having a bottom surface positioned to contact the ground;   a plurality of rigid spikes fixed to the sole bottom surface adjacent said toe portion and extending substantially vertically therefrom; and   a plurality of resilient cleats fixed to the sole bottom surface adjacent said heel portion and extending substantially vertically therefrom to support the sole bottom surface off of the ground when the wearer places his heel on the ground.   
     
     
       2. An athletic shoe as defined in claim 1 wherein said rigid spikes are metallic. 
     
     
       3. An athletic shoe as defined in claim 2 wherein said cleats are frusto-conical in shape with the larger diameter portion being fixed to the sole bottom surface. 
     
     
       4. An athletic shoe as defined in claim 3 wherein said cleats are positioned to extend partway upward along the heel portion of the shoe upper shell. 
     
     
       5. An athletic shoe as defined in claim 4 wherein said sole bottom surface adjacent the toe and midportions includes small resilient projections having a length substantially less than the length of said spikes. 
     
     
       6. In combination with an athletic shoe having a heel portion and, having an upper shell and a sole fixed thereto with a plurality of rigid spikes fixed to the sole under a toe portion of the shoe; and a plurality of resilient cleats fixed to the sole beneath the shoe heel portion and extending substantially perpendicular to the sole and parallel to the spikes to support the heel portion of the shoe.   
     
     
       7. In combination with an athletic shoe as defined in claim 6, said cleats being formed integrally to project from one surface of a sheet member; and means fixing said sheet member to said shoe sole so the cleats extend outward from the sole.   
     
     
       8. In combination with an athletic shoe as defined in claim 7 wherein said cleats are frusto-conical in shape.